RoadRunners Stun Steelheads 5-4 In Overtime

Published on February 16, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release


BOISE, Idaho - Daniel Sisca netted the equalizer with 0.1 seconds remaining in regulation and Gino Guyer scored the game-winner 4:20 into the overtime to propel the Phoenix RoadRunners to a come-from-behind 5-4 victory over the Idaho Steelheads before 5,323 at Qwest Arena in ECHL action Friday.

Idaho (27-16-8) scored the lone goal in the first period when John Lammers found Lance Galbraith open in the high slot and Galbraith snapped a shot over the blocker of RoadRunners goalie Dave McKee at 3:41 for a 1-0 lead.

The Steelheads built their advantage to three goals scoring twice in the first seven minutes of the second period. Lammers made it 2-0 when he found the back of the net just 46 seconds into the frame. Marty Flichel gave Idaho a 3-0 lead as he beat McKee with a one-time slap shot from just underneath the center blue line at 6:13 on a two-man advantage power play. The RoadRunners (18-26-6) responded at 11:30 on a power play of their own when Sean O'Connor re-directed Taylor Christie's shot from the right point over the shoulder of Idaho goalie Matt Zaba to cut the deficit to 3-1. Bryan Nathe then made it a one-goal hockey game beating a screened Zaba with a slap shot from the blue line at 16:45. But Idaho would counter less than a minute later at 17:24 as Taggart Desmet tipped Colin Sinclair's centering pass over McKee and into the net to make it a 4-2 hockey game after two periods.

Phoenix began their comeback with less than five minutes remaining in regulation. O'Connor collected his second goal of the game when he pounced on Ian Turner's rebound in front of the cage and jammed it through Zaba at 15:27 to bring the RoadRunners to within 4-3. Then on their last offensive possession of regulation, Chris Stevens threw a puck at the net from the left wall that deflected off the stick of Sisca, came off the cross-bar, and settled behind the Idaho goaltender for the game-tying goal at 19:59 to send the contest to overtime.

In the overtime period, Bryan Nathe found Guyer with a beautiful cross-ice pass from the right-wing circle, and Guyer on the back-door tipped the puck past Zaba along the ice with 40 seconds remaining in the extra session for the game-winning goal.

Idaho out-shot Phoenix 44-36. McKee stopped 40 shots to improve to 6-8-3 on the season. The RoadRunners went 1-6 on the power play while Idaho was 1-8 with the man-advantage.

Notes: Guyer tallied his first game-winning goal as a professional...The RoadRunners have taken four of the last five games from Idaho and improved to 4-5-1 overall against the Steelheads this year...O'Connor's goal was his first since Jan. 8 at Bakersfield...Phoenix's overtime win was their first in four tries this season...Defenseman Tom Sawatske did not play after suffering from flu-like symptoms prior to the game.

Phoenix continues a three-game series at 7:10 p.m. Friday against the Idaho Steelheads from Qwest Arena in Boise. Catch all the action live on Independent 1310 KXAM and at www.phxroadrunners.com beginning with "RoadRunners Countdown" at 6:45 p.m.

The RoadRunners return to US Airways Center at 7:11 p.m. Monday, Feb. 18 when they host the Victoria Salmon Kings.

Great seats are still available beginning as low as $8 and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (480) 784-4444, purchasing online at ticketmaster.com or visiting the US Airways Center Box Office. Information on season tickets, half-season packages, and flex plans for the 2007-08 season of Phoenix RoadRunners Hockey are available by calling (602) 462-GOAL.

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ECHL Stories from February 16, 2008


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